# Massachusetts lesbian venue faces backlash after relaxing Saturday mask rules

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/massachusetts-lesbian-bars-mask-policy-reversal-becomes-viral-flashpoint/
- Published: 2026-09-26T23:08:49+00:00
- Updated: 2026-09-27T05:23:21+00:00
- Topics: Art, Culture, Entertainment, Film, Government, Politics, Trending, Weird & Viral, World

## Key points

- Massachusetts lesbian bar made masks optional one night weekly.
- The decision was driven by serious financial difficulties.
- Bill Maher condemned the backlash and threatening rhetoric.

## Summary

Last Ditch Bar and Arts Venue, a lesbian bar in Greenfield, Massachusetts, attracted national attention after making masks optional on Saturday nights, ending its strict KN95 requirement one day a week. The change was intended to help the financially struggling venue remain open, but prompted strong criticism from some local patrons, who argued it could endanger immunocompromised and disabled people.

At a community meeting on 11 September, critics called for an acknowledgement of harm and objected to the use of a white therapist as mediator; some comments reportedly included threats and accusations that the owners were harming disabled people. On HBO’s Real Time, Bill Maher mocked the backlash and highlighted the bar’s financial difficulties, including waived entrance fees for people unable to pay and an owner reportedly living in a vehicle, while condemning the hostility directed at the venue.

## Coverage

- [The Hollywood Reporter: Viral Lesbian Bar Article From Boston Globe Is Piquing Hollywood’s Interest](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/viral-lesbian-bar-article-from-boston-globe-1236710331/)
- [Fox News: Maher blasts ‘intolerant left’ after Massachusetts lesbian bar faces fury for tweaking COVID-era mask policy](https://www.foxnews.com/media/maher-blasts-tolerant-left-after-massachusetts-lesbian-bar-faces-fury-tweaking-covid-era-mask-policy)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.